Who wants to take guess?
- Thread starter BruceH
- Start date
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electricman2
Senior Member
- Location
- North Carolina
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Re: Who wants to take guess?
I have made a lot of money from Homeowners who tried to change 3 way and 4 way switches themselves. Had one once who connected the EGC to one traveler terminal! He wondered why when switch was flipped, fuse blows.
PlnOldRick
Member
Re: Who wants to take guess?
when i did service work i would always say "god bless home depot and lowes"
the big orange should change thier catch to:
you can do it, we can help, then a professional can make a living cleaning it all up.
when i did service work i would always say "god bless home depot and lowes"
the big orange should change thier catch to:
you can do it, we can help, then a professional can make a living cleaning it all up.
Re: Who wants to take guess?
Guessing at what a problem is going to end up being, based on a phone conversation with a customer is like playing the lottery. Actually you may have better odds with the lottery.
When I ran a service truck I learned that if the address was correct on the slip you were doing good. I learned to ignor the rest of what the slip said.
But, if what you are looking for is "off the wall" guesses, I put my money on "he tripped the breaker, doesnt know how to reset it and that is why the switches are now dead" I will put my entire allowance of 0.05 dollars a week on it. (my wife has me on a tight budget) "
Guessing at what a problem is going to end up being, based on a phone conversation with a customer is like playing the lottery. Actually you may have better odds with the lottery.
When I ran a service truck I learned that if the address was correct on the slip you were doing good. I learned to ignor the rest of what the slip said.
But, if what you are looking for is "off the wall" guesses, I put my money on "he tripped the breaker, doesnt know how to reset it and that is why the switches are now dead" I will put my entire allowance of 0.05 dollars a week on it. (my wife has me on a tight budget) "
Re: Who wants to take guess?
I'll let you know where to send the check.
Well, if the light will not shut off I think it's a good "guess" that you just lost your allowance by betting the breaker is tripped.Originally posted by jbwhite:
Guessing at what a problem is going to end up being, based on a phone conversation with a customer is like playing the lottery. Actually you may have better odds with the lottery.
When I ran a service truck I learned that if the address was correct on the slip you were doing good. I learned to ignor the rest of what the slip said.
But, if what you are looking for is "off the wall" guesses, I put my money on "he tripped the breaker, doesnt know how to reset it and that is why the switches are now dead" I will put my entire allowance of 0.05 dollars a week on it. (my wife has me on a tight budget) "
I'll let you know where to send the check. Re: Who wants to take guess?
hang on... i have a nickel left from last week..
let me take a second guess...
The lights will work from one end, but not the other. the travelers are messed up. and the HO didnt tell you all the info on the phone because his wife was listening in on the call.
hang on... i have a nickel left from last week..
let me take a second guess...
The lights will work from one end, but not the other. the travelers are messed up. and the HO didnt tell you all the info on the phone because his wife was listening in on the call.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Who wants to take guess?
You have 2 problems.The original that would have took 15 minutes and now the new problem in that it is now wired wrong.Just plan on ringing out and marking all the wires first.Then proceed to wire it up in what ever config it was to begin with.Ohh and plan on him standing there asking dumb questions.And him and the mrs will be fighting after she writes that check for a 2 hour service call.Be sure and put your sticker on his panel as he will not learn from this and will need you again.
You have 2 problems.The original that would have took 15 minutes and now the new problem in that it is now wired wrong.Just plan on ringing out and marking all the wires first.Then proceed to wire it up in what ever config it was to begin with.Ohh and plan on him standing there asking dumb questions.And him and the mrs will be fighting after she writes that check for a 2 hour service call.Be sure and put your sticker on his panel as he will not learn from this and will need you again.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Who wants to take guess?
Maybe he can help with the new service too.
Maybe he can help with the new service too.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Re: Who wants to take guess?
My guess: power was pulled to the light first, and then travellers after the light. H/O came in, changed the light, messed with the workings, scratched his head, put it back together wrong,
...then he got out a test light, found a hot wire and a neutral, hooked his light to that. That would leave all the switches dead.
edit to add link to picture
[ December 26, 2005, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: georgestolz ]
My guess: power was pulled to the light first, and then travellers after the light. H/O came in, changed the light, messed with the workings, scratched his head, put it back together wrong,
...then he got out a test light, found a hot wire and a neutral, hooked his light to that. That would leave all the switches dead.
edit to add link to picture
[ December 26, 2005, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: georgestolz ]
Re: Who wants to take guess?
Well, what can I say, he's an retired general contractor. We all know how they can be. No, the service upgrade I got for sure, I was planning on starting it this week and he calls me with this other problem that he can't seem to resolve. I'm sure it's no big deal, he probably did try to replace the switches himself for some reason and got em wired wrong.
Well, what can I say, he's an retired general contractor. We all know how they can be. No, the service upgrade I got for sure, I was planning on starting it this week and he calls me with this other problem that he can't seem to resolve. I'm sure it's no big deal, he probably did try to replace the switches himself for some reason and got em wired wrong.
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Re: Who wants to take guess?
George, you're overthinking this. The problem is quite clearly that the microfleems are subradiante.
(Who can guess where that one came from? )
[ December 26, 2005, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: peter d ]
George, you're overthinking this. The problem is quite clearly that the microfleems are subradiante.
(Who can guess where that one came from?
)[ December 26, 2005, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: peter d ]
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Re: Who wants to take guess?
I think George nailed it.
I think George nailed it.
Re: Who wants to take guess?
ok....i am keeping the book here.
george says problem is at the light.
I lost one, but have a new bet for problem at switch.
better be carfull bruce you could end up owing 15 cents here.
edit: we accept pay pal.
[ December 26, 2005, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: jbwhite ]
ok....i am keeping the book here.
george says problem is at the light.
I lost one, but have a new bet for problem at switch.
better be carfull bruce you could end up owing 15 cents here.
edit: we accept pay pal.
[ December 26, 2005, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: jbwhite ]
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Re: Who wants to take guess?
The problem probably started at the light, then the homeowner may have moved wires on the switches.
ty
Senior Member
- Location
- 3rd Rock from the Sun
Re: Who wants to take guess?
I guess what George said.
Peter D,
was it Ghostbusters??
I guess what George said.
Peter D,
was it Ghostbusters??
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Re: Who wants to take guess?
Todd,
Nope, try again. It's a tough one, and pretty obscure, so I'll give you a hint. It's from a popular non-animal comic strip.
Todd,
Nope, try again. It's a tough one, and pretty obscure, so I'll give you a hint. It's from a popular non-animal comic strip.
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